Maud Gonne, born #onThisDay in 1866. I want to honour her as a woman, revolutionary, activist, artist, and philanthropist. She spoke up for people who did not have a voice. But she was no saint.

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Thanks @irelandincolour for photo!
#history #irishHistory #Ireland #women

She was deeply spiritual and her faith brought her peace. She experienced the world as mystics do and had an abiding sense of the sacred. This is the family bible, passed down to the eldest daughter. I have not added my name yet.
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She lived against convention and followed her heart. Her son Georges with her lover Millevoye was born out of wedlock. He died in infancy. She carried the loss & grief with her always, as mothers do. She always had his photo, his booty, and a lock of his hair with her.
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She lived an artistic and creative life. She studied drawing & painting in Paris. She illustrated books. Celtic Wonder tales by Ella Young. This is a portrait she painted of her daughter Iseult.
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Her husband John Mac Bride was an alcoholic. He exposed himself to his step-daughter Iseult. MG believed her household was not safe. A bitter divorce battle ensued. The great men of republican Ireland ostracised her for daring to live to her values & protect her daughter.
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Little changes. To this day I hear historians opine that she made a false allegation of abuse so she could retain custody of her young son Séan. From family papers & memories I do not believe that. When women name their traumas too often they are accused of weaponising.
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She was imprisoned by the English and later by the Irish Free State for her activism. Prison conditions were hard on her. She suffered poor health due to TB. Here she is in Holloway.
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In the Free State years she set up the Women's Prisoners' Defence League. Her journal Prison Bars drew attention to the plight of Republican prisoners. She set up industries to create employment for republican veterans. The family home was raided frequently by the state.
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She is best remembered as muse of #WBYeats. They had a deep spiritual connection, but annoyed each other too. She used to call him "Silly Willy". She was unhappy with his poem Easter 1916. This is her copy - 1 of 25 - he gave friends. She never cut the pages.
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Maud Gonne was no saint. In Paris she had been a Boulangist and anti-dreyfusard. She was an anti-semite. That horrifies me. But people contain multitudes, good and bad. We should always remember that. So today I also honour Alfred Dreyfus.
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Promise I won't do this again - but she was born #onThisDay. Thanks for this picture too from @Fiona_Forde_Irl and for reminding me. Ye can blame her for the thread!!! https://twitter.com/Fiona_Forde_Irl/status/1340934782687952896?s=20